Mold elevating and cope stripping and drag turnover facilities for mold assembling installation



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2,956,319 VER Oct. 18, 1960 T. A. DEAKINS EI'AL MOLD ELEVATING AND COPE STRIPPING AND DRAG TURNO FACILITIES FOR MOLD ASSEMBLING INSTALLATIGN Filed June 16, 1958 14 Sheets-Sheet 2 Cope MA Drag IZA Cope [4B Casting IIB" INVENTORS T. A. Deokins J. A. Lusuter 5.5,. Niorhngton, Jr.

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Oct. 18, 1960 T. A. DEAKlNs Erm. 2,956,319

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` S. G. Norhingon, Jr.

ATTORNEY 14 Sheets-Sheet 4 Il l T. A. DEAKINS ETAL FACILITIES FOR MOLD ASSEMBLING INSTALLATION Oct. 18, 1960 MOLD ELEVATING AND COPE STRIPPING AND DRAG TURNOVER Filed June 16, 1958 Oct. 18, 1960 T. A. DEAKINS ETAL 2,956,319

MOLD ELEVATING AND COPE STRIPPING AND DRAG TURNOVER FACILITIES FOR MOLD ASSEMBLING INSTALLATION Filed June 1e, 195e 14 sheets-sheet s Mold Elevator and Cope I2 504\" [I Stripper 470 at Station 'mi 4 l P 505 507g( Fig. lo.

INVENI'ORS T. A. Deaklns Flg. I J. A. Lusut'er S. C. Northmgton, Jr.

ATTORN Y Oct. 18, 1960 T. A. DEAKINS E'AL MOLD ELEVATING AND COPE STRIPPING AND DRAG TURNOVER FACILITIES FOR MOLD ASSEMBLING INSTALLATION Filed June 16, 1958 14 Sheets-Sheet 6 Mold Elevator und Cope Stripper 470 at Station I Fig. l2.

INVENTORS T. A. Deokins J. A. Losuter s. c. Norrhington; Jr.

AT'TORNE'Y Oct. 18, 1960 T. A. nEAKlNs rAL 2,956,319

MOLD ELEyAIING AND cops STRIPPING AND DRAG IuRNovER FACILITIES Fog mow AssEMBLING INSTALLATION Filed June 16, 1958 14 Sheets-Sheet '7 offjggnl 505/ Elevator and g 507 Cope Sripper F I3 a. a)

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Oct. 18, 1960 T. A. DEAKINS ETAL 2,956,319

NDLD ELEVATING AND COPE sIRIPPING AND DRAG IuRNovBR FACILITIES Foa NDLD AssDMBLING INSTALLATION Filed June 16, 1958 14 Sheets-Sheet. 8

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A'TTOR Y Oct. 18, 1960 T. A. nEAKlNs Erm. 2,956,319

MOLD ELEVA'IING AND COPE STRIPPING AND DRAGTURNOVER FACILITIES FOR MOLD ASSEMBLING INSTALLATION Filed June 16, 1958 14 Sheets-Sheet 9 Drag Turn-Over Fig. l5. y l Mo'for 522 INVENTORS T. A. Deukns J. A. Lasofgr S. O. Norhlngton Jr.

Oct. 18, 1960 T. A. bEAK-lNs Erm.

2,956,319 MOLD ELEVATING AND COPE STRIPPING AND DRAG TURNOVER FACILITIES FOR MOLD ASSEMBLING INSTALLATION Filed June 16, 1958 14 Sheets-Sheet 10 AlllHIt T. A. DEAKINS EVAL Y Oct. 18, 1960 MOLD ELEVATING AND COPE STRIPPING AND DRAG TURNOVER FACILITIES FOR MOLD ASSEMBLING INSTALLATION Filed June 16, 1958 14 Sheets-Sheet 11 ATTOREEY .NRV 329:33

INVENTORS T. A. Deokins J. A. Lasater S. Northinqton, Jr.

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MOLD ELsvATING AND cops s'rRIPPING AND DRAG IURNovER FACILITIES FDR MOLD AssEusLING INSTALLATION Filed June 1e. lesa 14 sheets-snee: 12

Drag Turn Over gLZ of Station El 5/6 52/ 530 Drug Flask /2 in Elsvaor 490 `,153/ (swam: mman) T N/avions su m8 Flg. 2|. J. A. Lmegr S. Northmgton, Jr.

,AlrToRN Oct. 18, 1960 T. A. DEAKlNs Erm. 2,956,319

MOLD ELEVATING AND COPE STRIPFING AND DRAG TURNOVER FACILITIES FOR MOLD ASSEMBLING INSTALLATION Filed June 16, 1958 14 Sheets-Sheet 13 Dru T nO e atSiot'onYI I Q UI' V I' I 28 524 Fig. 22. 5 (FourhM/ Fig. 22o.

(Finn Fashion) 472 5/8 Flg. 23 cl. n

INVENTORS T. A. Deokns J. A. Lusuer S. C. Ncrthingon, Jr.

ATTORNEY Oct. 18, 1960 T. A. DEAKlNs x-:rAL 2,956,319

.MOLD ELEVATING AND COPE STRIPPING AND-URG TURNOVER FACILITIES FOR mow AssEMBLING INSTALLATION ATTO R h EY United States Patent() MOLD ELEVATING AND COPE STRIPPING AND DRAG TURNOVER FACILITIES FOR MOLD AS- SEMBLING INSTALLATION Thomas A. Deakins, Chattanooga, Tenn., John A. Lasater, Tyler, Tex., and Samuel C. Northington, Jr., LookontMountain, Tenn., assignors to Combustion Engineering, Inc., New York, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Filed June 16, 1958, Ser. No. 742,324

6 Claims. (Cl. 22-34) This invention relates to new and improved facilities for elevating poured molds and for stripping the copes therefrom and for turning the drags thereof over in mold assembling installations such as `are shown and described by an earlier application Serial'No. 731,426 which was tiled April 28, 1958 in the names of Thomas A. Deakins and John A. Lasater and Samuel C. Northington, lr. and which is entitled Mechanized Facilities for Producing and Assembling Foundry Molds of Alternately Dilering Types and of which this present application is a continuation-in-part; and the subject matter of the present application is in part disclosed by and has in part been reproduced from our said earlier application Serial 731,426.

Broadly stated, the object of our invention is to provide novel mold elevating and cope stripping and drag turnover means which are more compact than and more fully automated than and otherwise superior to the corresponding means that are disclosed by a still earlier application Serial No. 200,899 (now abandoned) which was filed December 15, 1950 in the names of Samuel C. Northington, Jr. and John A. Lasater and which on May 31, 1955 was replaced by a continuation application Serial No. 511,941 then led on the saine subject matter under title of Apparatus and Method for Assembling Foundry Molds and now issued as U.S. Patent 2,850,775 dated September 9, 1958.

A more specific object is to improve the system layout of the just named earlier application Serial 511,941 by replacing the machine-encircling track 32 thereof with the new means here disclosed and claimed, which new means accomplish the same functions in an easier and better way.

Additional objetcs and advantages will become apparent as the disclosure and description hereof proceeds.

An illustrative form of apparatus provided by us for practicing this mold elevating and cope stripping and drag turn over invention is disclosed by the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic showing in top plan View of the mold assembling installation that our earlier application Serial 731,426 discloses and claims and that includes a Station Vl at which the improvements of the present invention are utilized;

Fig. 2 is an exploded view showing the drag ask and the cope ilask and the core components of a rst or A type mold which the Fig. 1 installation assembles and pours;

Fig. 3 indicates how the drag and cope and core of Fig. 2 appear after having been brought together by the central assembling machine 30 of said installation to produce an assembled mold of said A type;

Fig. 4 represents one of the A type castings which may be produced in the assembled mold of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is an exploded view showing the drag and cope and core components of a second or B type mold which the Fig. l installation also yassembles. and pours;

Fig. 6 shows ya B type mold as assembled from said Fig. 5 components;

Fig. 7 represents one of the B type castings which may be produced in the assembled mold of Fig. 6;

Figs. 8a through 8e are Station V-VI operation diagrams in simplilied top plan view form indicating how A and B molds delivered at Station V upon first and second pouring tracks of the Fig. 1 system move along those tracks -to Station Vl, and further indicating how such A and B molds upon reaching Station Vl go into our new elevator 470 which strips the copes therefrom for return to Station IV and then delivers the drags into our new turnover apparatus 472 which empties the castings and sand therefrom preparatory to Sending the empty drags back to Station I;

Fig. 9 illustrates the Station VI apparatus of Fig. 1 in an enlarged top plan view that reproduces Fig. 44 of earlier application Serial 731,426 and that shows certain details of the mold transfer car 468 and of the cooperating take oi carriage 476 by which poured A and B molds `as received by that car from the A land B pour ing and cooling tracks 428 and 430 are fed from said car successively and in alternate A and B order into our new mold elevator and cope stripper 470 4at Station VI;

Fig. 10 is `an enlarged representation in elevation on line 10-10 of Figs. 1 and 9 which shows how said elevator and cope stripper apparatus appears when viewed from the side; Y

Fig. 11 illustrates more completely the top hydraulic cylinder by which the carriage in said elevator is raised and lowered, and also represents control means for said cylinder;

Fig. 12 is a representation on lines 12-12 of Figs. 9 and 10 showing how our aforesaid elevator and cope stripper appears when viewed from the front;

Figs. 13a through 13d are Station VI operation diagrams, in simplied side view from line 13-13 of Fig. 1, indicating how our Station VI elevator functions rst to receive each poured mold from the adjacent transfer car, then to lift the cope away from the drag, next further to raise the stripped cope along with the drag now vertically spaced below the cope, thereafter to eject the drag with solidified castings into our cooperating turn over mechanism 472, and finally to transfer the empty cope upon a shakeout device;

Fig. 14 is a section on line 14-1-4 of Fig. 13b showing the specially coordinated support elements that are opera- :tive to accomplish cope stripping during mold elevation;

Fig. 15 is a representation on lines 15-15 of Figs. 9, l0, 17 and 19 showing how our aforementioned new turnover mechanism appearsvwhen viewed from the front;

Fig. 16 shows the vane-type hydraulic motor 522, as viewed in section on line 16-16 of Figs. 17 and 20 and 21, which forms a part of said drag turn over mechanism, and -also represents control means for that turnovermotor;

Fig. 17 is a sectional elevation on line 17-17 of Fig. 15 showing how various internal elements of the turn over mechanism are constructed and arranged;

Fig. 18 is a View on line 18-18 of Fig. 17 looking down upon the mechanism pedestal and the head-swinging cylinder 520 therein;

Fig. 19 is a View from line 19-19 of Fig. 18 showing how the turnover mechanism head and other parts appear when viewed from the top;

Fig. 20 is a simplified vertical section on line 20-20v of Figs. 1 and 9 showing the Station Vl drag turn over device 472 in a iirst position ready to recive a drag ask with castings from the adjoining mold elevator; Fig. 20a illustrates the Fig. 20 turn over device after elements thereof have moved to a second position and Y 3 drawn the labove mentioned drag ask lfrom the elevator into the device;

Fig. 21 is `a horizontal section on line 21-21 of Fig. 29a` providing another view of the turnover device when vsai'd secoii'd p'o'siti'on; p l Y ,y Fig. Zlais a similar view in horizontal section showing the device after it has been swung oounterclockwise from said second position to the represented new third position (shown dotted by Figs. l and 2l) which prepares theH apparatus for later turn over of the drag;

c, Fig. 22 is a front elevation on line 22-22 of Fig. 21a providing another view of the turnover device when in said third position;

Fig'. 22'zl is a similar view in front elevation showing the device after elements thereof have rotated through 180 V into the represented fourth position wherein the contained drag'ask has been turned completely over around a horizontal axis with resultant dropping therefrom of the castings and some of the sand;

Fig.y 23 yis a vertical section on line 23-23 of Fig. 22a providing another view of the turn over device when in said, fourth position;

Fig. 23aris a similar View in vertical section showing the device after elements thereof have pushed the turnedover drag Yand -its carried castings out of the device and towards the drag and casting shakeouts that are represented in Figs. 1 and 24; and

Fig. 24 i's a view-in side elevation from line 24-24 of Fig. 1 that shows the pedestal-mounted drag turn over device of the immediately preceding views and that also illustrates further features of the associated casting and dragshakeouts andof the cooperatingconveyor by which thenished castings are carried away from the Station Vl apparatus.

The mold components to be assembled The'pr'eviously mentioned earlier applications Serial 511,941 (now U.S. Patent 2,850,775) and Serial 731,426 each disclose mold components such as are shown by Figs. 2-3 and 5-6 hereof, and the specifications of those two earlier applications each describe illustrative productions of castings in static molds prepared and assembled from such component parts. l Aps represented by Figs. 2-3 and 5-6 hereof, said mold parts include a lower flask half 12 referred to as the dragfr an upper flask half 14 referred to as the cope, suitable sand 13 or the likepacked into both the drag and the cope for receiving cavity impressions 16 from the casting pattern (not shown), `and cores 15 (sand or other) which are placed within the mold cavity to form a hollow interior for the castings to be produced. f iIn the case of the rst or A type mold of Figs. 2-3, the aforesaid casting pattern and the cooperating cores 15A Vare both shaped to provide for the simultaneous casting in each such A mold of four of the quarter-bend soil pipe ttngs which Fig. 4 shows at 10A; and in the case 4of the second or B type mold of Figs. 5-6, the aforesaid'casting pattern and cooperating cores 15B likewise are shaped to provide for the simultaneous casting in each such B mold of four of the Y-iittings which Fig. 7 shows at 10B. These A molds, as also shown on the pouring track 428 of Fig. l, have their sprue openings 23A centrally located; while these B molds, as also shown on the pouring track 430 of Fig. 1, have their spr-ue openings at the offset location 23B of Figs. 5-6.

Accurate alignment of eachgtop cope Y1'4- with the bottom drag 12 upon which it is assembled`is maintained, both in the A type molds and in the B type molds, by pins 17 which upstand from the drag ends and over which mating brackets 18 on the cope ends lit. Each drag flask 12A and 12B as well as each cope flask 14A and 14B is provided with left and right side support bars 28 that during assembly of the mold parts are utilized in the Way which applications Serial 511,941 and 731,426. both show and explain. Y

In the foundry installation upon which the drawings hereof are based, the molds to be prepared and assembled and poured and otherwise handled are relatively large and comparatively heavy. Each assembled mold represented at 12-14 in Fig. 3 hereof and in Fig. 6 hereof weighs approximately 2000 pounds before pouring and about 2200 pounds after molten metal has been filled thereinto; and it has inside dimensions of 32vr inches by 36 inches and is 18 linches tall (bottom of drag to top of cope). Weights and sizes of this magnitude rule out manual handling and make mechanized manipulation iniperative.

The complete molti assenblig system 0jv Fig. 1

The novel mold elevator and cope stripper and drag turn over facilities of our present invention are incorporated into the Station VI portion of the Fig. 1 system of foundry mold assembly. Said complete system of Fig. 1 is built around the central mold assembling machine represented at 30 anddisorganized, as taught by our earlier application Serial 731,426, to accomplish the preparation and assembly and pouring 'and breaking up of foundry molds 12-14 which alternately are of the A type already ldescribed by reference to Figs. 2-3-4 and of the B type already described by reference to Figs. 5-6-7. This central machine 30 has much in common with the machine 30 of U.S. Patent 2,850,775. It is equipped with a turret which -is rotatable 'about a vertical axis and whichY is provided with live arm heads 60 that are spaced circumferentially (72` apart) around the turret., Each of these live arm heads is mounted for roll over about a horizontal axis radial to the turret center; and carried by each head 60 are upper and lower sets of flask receiving arms that extend outwardly from the head in radial relation to the turret. Such upper and lowerrarm setsfon each of the five turret heads 60 are arranged to be moved towards and away from each other; and each of these tert` arm sets (details not fully shown here) is adapted to have a drag flask 12 or a cope flask 144 or a c ore box (designated 26 in Fig. 1) with cores 1 5 therein inserted endwise into the arms and there supported via the aforementioned left and right side bars 28 on the inserted ask or box.

Provision is made for successively advancing this turret of central machine 30 through the angular distance (72) between arm heads 60 whereby each set of upper and lower arms progressively occupies at-rest positions spaced around the turret peripherys rotative path at the Station locations designated L-lI--lll-IV-V in Fig. l.

At the rst or Drag-On Station I of Fig. 1 use is made of a drag-charging machine `and associated facilities that are organizedv as more fully described by our copending application Serial 731,426 and that function to insert into the upper arms of the turret heads 60 there successively coming to rest sand charged drag flasks 12 which alternately are of the A mold type (Fig. 2) and of the B mold type (Fig. 5 and each of which has its pattern impression 16 facing down.

At the second or Core-On Station Il of Fig. l there are provided two parallel sets of core forming machines A-186A and 185B-186B plusIV outer and inner cooperating transfer cars 368 and 370 also orgam'zed as per copending application Serial 731,426; and these facilities function to insert into the lower arms ofthe turret heads 60 core boxes (represented at 26 in Fig. 1) with finished cores `15 therein, which coresA are of the same alternate A mold type (Fig. 2), and B mold type (Fig.,5) as the Vmating drag flasks 12 in the upper arms of those receiving heads 60 and each of which cores faces up fromV its carrying box.

Following Station II is a third or Core-Box-Off Station'shown at III in Fig. 1 and likewise organized as per our copending application Serial 731,426; and cooperating with the turret of central machine 30 are control i'neans' .responsive to advancement by the turret of each arm head 69 from Station II to Station III for first moving the upper vand lower arms on that head together thus bringing the cores 15 into the drag 12s pattern cavity 16 and then rolling said arms through 180 about the head axis thus placing the drag 12 on the bottom and the cores 15 on top thereof with the core box 26 above the cores and then moving the two arms away from each other thus lifting the core box free both of the drag 12 and the cores 15 now resting in the drags pattern cavity.

At the aforesaid Core-BoX-O tation III is mechanism 208'-210 for withdrawing the empty and now inverted core boxes 26 out of the upper arms of the turret heads there successively coming to rest, for turning each Withdrawn core box over and interchanging its two ends, and for returning those turned over boxes 26 to Core-On Station II via a gravity track 187 in the same alternate A type and B type order as the boxes come out of machine 30 at III.

At the fourth or Cope-On Station IV use is made of a cope-charging machine 240' and associated facilities that again are organized as per copending application Serial 731,426 and that function to insert into the now-empty upper arms of the turret heads 60 there successively coming to rest sand charged cope flasks 14 which are of the same alternate A mold type (Fig. 2) and B mold type (Fig. 5) as the mating drag flasks 12 in the lower arms of those receiving heads 60 and each of which has its pattern impression facing down.

Following Station IV is a fth or Mold-Off station shown at V in Fig. l; and cooperating with the turret of central machine 30 are control means responsive to advancement by the turret of each arm head 60 from Station IV to Station V for moving the upper and lower arms of that head together thus bringing the cope 14 down upon the drag 12 with the copes pattern cavity fitting over the cores 15 now supported by the drag.

At the aforesaid Mold-Oli Station V is a transfer car 424 plus cooperating facilities which are organized as per our copending application Serial 731,426 and which function to withdraw from the two closed arms of each turret head 60 there coming to rest the now assembled mold made up of the drag 12 and cores 15 and cope 14 brought together as just described; and the molds 12-14 thus withdrawn upon transfer car 424 alternately are of the A type (Fig. 3) and the B type (Fig. 6) earlier discussed.

And cooperating with central machine 30s turret are further control means responsive to advancement by the turret of each arm head 60 from Station V to the first named Drag-On Station I for moving the upper and lower arms on that head away from each other preparatory to repeating the mold assembly cycle outlined above.

In the installation reproduced by Fig. 1 hereof from our earlier application Serial 731,426 the so assembled A type and B type molds as alternately taken from machine 30 at Station V are delivered by the aforesaid transfer car 424 into respective register with the earlier mentioned first pouring and cooling track 428 for those A molds and with the companion second pouring and cooling track 430 for those B molds; and the operation diagrams of Figs. 8a through 8e clearly indicate (via their right portions) how such delivery actions take place.

By Station V feed carriages which our earlier application Serial 731,426 discloses more fully, each thus delivered A mold then is fed upon the entrance end of the A track 428 and each thus delivered B mold similarly is fed upon the entrance end of the B track 430. Once on its aforesaid track, each of these assembled A and B molds rides on left and right sets of side rollers which are shown at 462 in Fig. 9 and which contact and impart support to the left and right bottom edges of the molds drag ask 12.

. Ibis feeding at Station V of each additional mold upon the entrance end of the A track 428 and of the B track 430 is accompanied by a pushing of al1 other assembled molds thereahead on the mold-carrying trackV along that track towards the exit end thereof; and in the case of each track the pushing force is transmitted through end bumpers on the mold drags 12, which bumpers are represented at 466 by Figs. 2-3 hereof and by Figs. 5-6 hereof.

During the time that each such mold occupies the second position from its track entrance end, molten metal is poured into the molds sprue opening 23 via suitable apparatus represented in Fig. l at 460A for the A track 428 and at 460B for the B track 430; and these two pouring and cooling tracks 428 and 430 are suiciently long as to permit the castings 10A (Fig. 4) in each of the A molds so poured at 460A and the castings 10B (Fig. 7) in each of the B molds so poured at 460B fully to solidify and to cool considerably before the molds reach the Station VI apparatus at the track exit ends.

Within the length span thereof designed Z in Figs. 1 and 8, both of said tracks 428 and 430 are provided with means which hold the cope 14 of each so poured A mold and of each so poured B mold firmly against the mold drag 12 therebeneath while the metal pouring is in progress and for a short time thereafter; and these referred to means Z are disclosed more fully and are claimed by a co-pending application Serial No. 740,792 entitled Cope-to-Drag Clamping Facilities for Mold Asslembling Installation which was led by us on .Tune 9,

By said cope-to-drag clamping means each A mold and each B mold that is within the track span Z is subjected to a loading force which is applied downwardly upon the side bars 28 of the mold cope and which holds the mold cope 14 and its drag 12 firmly together while pouring of the molten metal actually is taking place, and also thereafter while the poured mold is being advanced through four succeeding positions along its cooling track (428 or 430). However as each of these poured molds leaves zone Z in approaching the track exit it is freed of such loading force, so that upon later arrival at Station VI the cope 14 thereof no longer is secured to the mold drag 12 and hence may freely be lifted therefrom without the need of the unfastening operation that is required when using mold end clamps of the conventional type which earlier application Serial 511,941 shows at 19 in its Figs. 4-5.

At Station VI the apparatus indicated by Fig. l includes a mold transfer car 468 plus our new mold elevator and cope stripper 470 plus our cooperating drag turn over device 472. This transfer car 468 is organized in the manner which Fig. 9 hereof shows, and it functions to receive and deliver into alignment with said mold elevator 470 each of the poured A molds which arrives at Station VI on track 428 and each of the poured B molds which arrives at Station VI on track 430.

Said Fig. 9 hereof reproduces Fig. 44 from our earlier application Serial 731,426 and it illustrates the apparatus by which the aforesaid mold delivery is accomplished. Represented therein are the elevator feed carriage 476 and drive cylinder 478 which via bar 480 act to push each received A mold and each received B mold off the transfer car 468 and into the elevator 470, all in the manner which earlier application Serial 731,426 explains by reference to its Fig. 45; also the cylinder 474 which, when controlled as per Fig. 48 of said earlier application, drives said transfer car 468 back and forth along rails 473 between the exit ends of the aforementioned A and B cooling tracks 428 and 430 in proper synchronism with the aforementioned arrival of the poured A and B molds at the exit ends of those tracks.

During operation of the Fig. 1 system, said Station VI feed carriage 476 and associated transfer car 468 of the just described Fig. 9 act cooperation with .each other to insert thesaid arriving A and B molds, as received upon the car 468, into said mold elevator 47 0 successively and in the same alternate A and B order as they are delivered to Station VI by tracks 428 and 430. For a graphical representation of how these actions take place, see the left portions of Figs. 8a through 8e hereof.

How new mold elevator and cope stripper and drag turn over facilities contribute to Station VI operation l Our novel mold elevator and cope stripper and drag turn over facilities of the present invention are incorporated into the Station VI portion of the complete Fig. 1 system in the manner which Figs. 1 and 8 hereof show generally at 470 and472, and which later drawing views hereof disclose more fully.

lBefore looking at this inventively new apparatus in a detailed way, it will be helpful to consider the broad and vital operating functions which are performed thereby. During operation thereof, each poured A mold and each poured B mold which comes into the lower portion of elevator 470 (again see diagrams of Figs. Str-8e) first has its cope Vflask 14 stripped upwardly away from its drag flask 12 and castings 10; the stripped cope 14 then is transferred from the elevator 470 upon a cope shakeout shown at 490 in Figs. 1, 8 and 13; and the empty cope flask 14 thereafter passes from shakeout 490 upon a downwardly inclined gravity track 415 (Figs. 1 and 8) by which it is retumed to the cope charging apparatus 240' at Station IV.

The mold drag 12 and castings 10 from which the cope 14 has been stripped now is transferred from the elevator 470 into the Station VI turnover device 472. After receiving said drag 12 with castings, device 472 swings 'ounterclockwise around a vertical axis to the dotted line position of Figs. 1 and 2l where it is in register with a track 532 which leads to drag and casting shakeouts shown at 492 and 494 in Figs. 1 and 24. Here the device 472 rotates aroundV a horizontal axis through 180 and turns the drag flask 12 over with an accompanying dropping of the castings out of the drag.

n Said dropped out castings 10 next are pushed from device 472 upon the casting shakeout 494 in the'manner indicated by Figs. 23a-24; the turned over drag 12 likewise is advanced by way of track 532 upon the drag shakeout 492 (Fig. 24) where all sand is removed therefrom; and this having been done the now-empty drag ask 12 passes from shakeout 492 upon a downwardly inclined gravity track 356 (Figs. 1, 8, 24) by which it is returned to the drag charging apparatus 160' at Station I.

Meanwhile the mold castings 10 as delivered from said turned 'over drag 12 upon the Vcasting shakeout 494 are there freed of all sand and thence passed upon a conveyor shown at 502 in Figs. l and 24. By this conveyor 502 said iinished castings 1i) are carried away from Station VI (to the right in Fig. 1) and delivered into suitable cleaning equipment (not shown) through which they pass in preparation for shipment. Y l In going through and being Vacted upon by our Station VI apparatus, each drag 12 of an A type mold yields the four solidified castings which Fig. 1 shows at 10A on `conveyor 502 at the extreme right thereof, while each drag of a B type mold similarly yields the four solidii'ed castings which Fig. 1 shows at 10B closer to Station Since the assembled and poured molds from Station V are-fed into said Station Vl apparatus in the alternate A and B order, already described by reference to the Figs.- Saz-8e diagrams, the-sets of finished castings I10A and 10B from the turned over mold drags 12 are therefore also delivered in the same alternate A and B sequence upon the castings conveyor 502; and they there thus line themselves up in the alternate A and B groups which Fig. lfrepres'ents.

Farther details of the mold elevator and cope stripper 470 and the vdrag-tarn `0ver`472 apparatus of our invention Y YFurther"attention"willnoW be given Vto the elevator 470 and drag turn over 472'portions'of our new Station VI equipment. Looking irst at the elevator and cope stripper 470, the carriage 482 thereof as shown by Figs. 10, 12, 13a-13d is at proper times lifted upwardly by cylinder 504 via piston 505 and rod 506 upon admission of pressure uid into the cylinders lower port 507. Such admission elevates carriage 482 from the bottom position of Figs. 10, 12, 13a-13b to the top position of Figs. 13C-13d; and the carriage 482 is thereafter lowered at proper times by removing supply of pressure iluid from port 507 and connecting that port with an exhaust line.

The just mentioned pressure fluid for operating this elevator cylinder 504 is supplied thereto through a valve shown at SV25 in Fig. 11 as communicating with the duid supply line 27 6 and with the exhaust supply line 277 of earlier applications Serial 511,941 and Serial 731,426. Control circuits for the left and right windings of this valve SV25 are illustrated in Fig. 1l as being energized from the supply conductors 280 and 281 of the same two earlier applications, and as including switches 800, 801, 802, 803, 804 and 805 later to be described. Other control organizations for accomplishing the same purpose are of course possible. 1

Each poured mold 12-14 that is fed into the lowered carriage 482 by the pusher bar 480, as shown by Figs. 13a-13b, has its drag ask 12 initially supported on rollers 510 which are mounted on left and right stationary cross bars 511 forming part of the elevators base structure. This is clearly shown by Figs. 12 and 14. Following withdrawal of the Fig. 9 feeder bar 480, the carriage 482 is raised due to energization of the right SV25 winding over a circuit shown by Fig. 11 as including the now-closed carriage-occupied switch 8th) within elevator 470 (Fig. 13b) plus the now-closed rear limit switch 803 on the feed carriage 476 of Fig. 9 plus the now-closed carriage down Switch 804 at the elevator botom (Figs. 13a-13b). l

Such energization shifts the SV25 elements (Fig. 11) to the right with accompanying ow from line 276 into the Fig. 11 cylinder 5t'4s lower port 507 of pressure iiuid which by raising cylinder piston '596 and rod '505 moves the elevator carriage 482 into the raised or top position of Fig. 13C. Early during this carriage elevation, cope stripping rollers 512 mounted on carriage members 513 (as Figs. 10, 132, 13 show) engage the cope side bars 28 and thus lift the cope 14 away from drag 12 while the drag still rests on stationary rollers y510.

Such lifting or stripping action continues until a third set of left and right rollers 514 provided on the carriage near its bottom (see Figs. 11, 12, 14) rise up into engagement with the drag side bars 28. At this point the cope 14 rides in the carriage substantially above the drag 12 therebeneath, with such spacing being as shown by Fig. 13C. Said same vertical spacing between cope and drag is maintained while the carriage 482 continues to rise; and it continues until and after the carriage has reached its top position of Fig. 13C.

Cooperative actions on the part of the drag turn over apparatus come into the picture at this stage of the Station VI cope stripping and mold lifting cycle. Said turn over device comprises a base pedestal shown at 517 in Figs. l5, 17 and 24 upon the top of which there is supported the head represented at 516 in Figs, 17, 19, 20- 20a, 21-2la, 23-23a, 24 as being swingable around the vertical mounting shaft 518 between the two positions respectively diagrammed by Figs. 21 and 21a; and swinging movement from one to the other of these two positions (also shown in full lines and dotted by Fig. 1 at Station VI) is at proper times imparted to the head 516 by the hydraulic cylinder 520 of Figs. 17, 18, S21-21a.

Pressure fluid for operating this head swinging cylinder 520 is supplied thereto through a valve shown'at SV28 in Fig. 2l as communicating with the fluid supply line 276 and with the exhaust fluid line 277 mentioned previously. Control circuits `for the left and rightwindings 9. of this valve SV28 are illustrated in Fig. 2l as being energized from the earlier mentioned supply conductors 280 and 281 and as including switches 806', 807', 809, 810', 812 and 813 later to be described. Other control organizations for accomplishing the same purpose are of course possible.

Extending from the right end of this head 516 and supported therein for rotation therewith about the horizontal axis of member 521 is the turn over assemblage designated 472 in each of Figs. 10, 13, 15, 17, 19 and 20 through 24. The mentioned rotation takes place through a range of 180 which is traversed by assemblage 472' in going from the drag-upright position of Fig. 22 to the drag-turned-over position of Fig. 22a; and such turn-over rotation (and return) is at proper times imparted to assemblage 472 through member `521 by a hydraulic motor shown at 522 in each of Figs. 16-17 and 19 through 24.

Pressure uid for operating this hydraulic turn over motor 522 is supplied thereto through a valve shown at SV29 in Fig. 16 as communicating With the uid supply and exhaust lines 276 and 277 previously mentioned. Control circuits for the left and right windings of this valve SV29 are illustrated as being energized from the electrical supply conductors 280 and 281 and as including switches 807, 809, 810', 811' 812 and 813 later to be described. Other control organizations for accomplishing the same purpose are of course possible.

The turn over assemblage 472 utilizes left and right side arms l524 along the inner faces of which are disposed top and bottom rows of rollers 76 positioned to accommodate therebetween the left and right side bars 28 of each drag ask 12 that is drawn into the assemblage from elevator 470 (Fig. 13) in the manner which Figs. 20-20a indicate. Such indrawing of a drag 12, as well as later ejection thereof, is at proper times accomplished by a hydraulic cylinder 526 whose piston 527 connects via rod 528 with an ejector plate 530 and a draw-in latch 531; and both of these members S30-531 thus can be moved by cylinder 526 back and forth through the aS- semblage casing 472 between a first or extended position of Fig. 20 and a second or indrawn position of Fig. 20a.

Pressure fluid for operating this drag draw-in and ejector cylinder 526 is supplied thereto through a Valve shown at SV27 in Fig. 20a as communicating with iluid supply and exhaust lines 276 and 277. Control circuits for the left and right windings of this valve SV27 are illustrated as being energized from the electrical supply conductors 280 and 281 and as including switches 802', 80S, 806, 807, 80S, 810, 811 and 812 later to be described. Other control organizations for accomplishing the same purpose are of course possible.

Starting with the Station VI elevator 470 in the condition of Fig. 13e wherein the carriage 482 is at the elevator top carrying a stripped cope 14 on its upper rollers 512 and a mold drag 12 (with castings 10) on its lower rollers 514, the turn over assemblage 472' in the full line position of Fig. 1 (also shown by Figs. 8b and 8d) extends the latch 531 of Fig. 20 engaging it behind the inner rim of said drag flask 12 in the way which Fig. 20 shows. Such latch extension results `from energization of the left SV27 winding over a circuit shown by Fig. 20a as including switch 805 closed when elevator carriage 42 is in its raised position (Fig. 13e) plus switch 802 closed when a drag ash 12 is in said raised carriage 482 (also Fig. 13e) plus switch 806 closed when turn over assemblage 472' is in register with elevator 470 (Fig. 21 and full lines Fig. 1) plus switch 810 closed when that assemblage is in its nonturned over position (Fig. 22) plus switch 809 closed when latch S31 and rod 528 are withdrawn (Fig. 20a); and said left winding energization shifts the SV27 elements to the left with accompanying ow of pressure fluid into the left end of cylinder 526 and resultant movement of .piston 527 plus latch 531 into the right or exi' tended position of Fig. 20.

As latch 531 reaches said Fig. 20 position and hooks behind drag 12s ask rim, a limit switch 808 closes and energizes the right SV27 winding over a circuit shown by Fig. 20a as including that switch 808. The resultant shift to the right of the SV27 elements causes ow of pressure iluid into the right end of cylinder 526 with an accompanying drawing (by piston 527 and rod 528) of said latch 531 and the drag 12 to the left into the Fig. 20a position where said drag 12 has been taken out of the elevator 470 and entered into the turnover head 472', as Figs. 20a and 21 both show. Here the drag side bars 28 are engaged by the left and right sets of supporting rollers 76 on side arms 524, as Fig. 22 indicates.

The turnover assemblage 472 next is swung by cylinder 520 around vertical mounting shaft 518 from the Fig. 2l position in register with elevator 470 (shown full line by Fig. l) to the Fig. 21a third position (shown dotted by Fig. 1) that is in register with the Figs. l and 24 track S32 which inclines downwardly from Station VI to the drag shakeout 492 leading to the entrance end of the empty-drag return track 356. Such assemblage swinging results from energization of the left SV28 winding over a circuit shown by Fig. 21 as including switch 806' closed when the turn over assemblage 472' is in its elevatorregistering position (Fig. 2l) plus switch 809 closed when the latch 531 and piston rod are withdrawn into assemblage 472' (Fig. 20a) plus switch 812 closed when a drag flask 12 is occupying that assemblage (Fig. 21); and said left winding energization shifts the SV28 elements to the left with accompanying ilow of pressure uid into the left end of cylinder 520 and resultant movement of piston 814 and arm 815 to the right, which movement swings turn over assemblage 472 into the above mentioned new position of Fig. 21a (also shown by Figs. 8a, 8c, 8e).

Turn over motor 522 now rotates the assemblage through into the Figs. 22a-23 fourth position wherein the drag 12 has been completely turned over and is in that turned over condition supported within assemblage 472' via side bars 28 and rollers 76', as Fig. 22a shows. Such turn over rotation by motor 522 results from energization of the left SV29 winding over a circuit shown by Fig. 16 as including switch 807 closed when assemblage 472 occupies the Fig. 21a position in register with track 532 (Figs. 8a, 8c, 8e) plus switch 812 closed when a drag 12 is within the turn over assemblage 472' (Fig. 21a) plus switch 810' closed when that assemblage occupies the drag-upright position of Fig. 22. Said left winding energization shifts the SV29 elements (Fig. 16) to the left with accompanying ow of pressure iluid into the left port 816 of Fig. 16 motor 522 and resultant rotative movement by the -motor vane 818 in the clockwise direction. This rotative movement is transmitted by drive member 521 (Fig. 21a) to assemblage 472 and thereby produces the drag turn over mentioned above.

The solidied castings 10 now drop out of the turned over drag ask 12 and are retained by the assemblage casing 472', as Figs. 22a-23 show. Part of the sand 13 (Figs. 2-3 and 5 6) as earlier packed into the ask at Station I may also fall out at this point, even though Figs. 22a-2323a do not so indicate; moreover, the castings 10 here may at least partially break away from their associated sand cores 1S.

Cylinder 526 next advances push out plate 530 from the indrawn position of Fig. 23 to the extended position of Fig. 23a. Such advancement results from energization of the left SV27 winding (Fig. 20a) over a circuit shown by Fig. 20a as including switch 807 closed when assemblage 472 is in register with shakeout track 532 (Fig. 21a and dotted lines Fig. 1) plus switch 811 closed when that assemblage is in its turned over position (Fig. 22a) plus switch 812 closed when a drag ilask 12 occupies the assemblage arms 524 (Figs. 21a-22a); and said left winding energization shifts the SV27 elements to the left with accompanying ow of pressure uid into the left end of cylinder 526 and resultant movement of piston 527 plus ejector plate 536 to the right and into the fth or pushed outfposition of Fig. 23a.

By this action the castings 10 plus any loose sand 1 3--15 plus the turned over drag flask 12 are pushed from the assemblage casing 472. Such pushing advances said drag 12 upon the rollers of the Fig. 24 track 532 which leads to the drag shakeout 492 (Figs. 1 and 24), and it sends the castings 10 and loose sand down the inclined plate 533 of Figs. 23a-24 and upon the casting shakeout 494.

. Following such completion of the drag turn over and processing cycle, our apparatus 472 of Fig. 23a withdraws plate 536 and latch 531 back into the assemblage casing 472. This is done through completion by limit switch 808 (Fig. 23a) of the Fig. 20a circuit over which the right winding of valve SV27 is energized upon completion of the push out action described above.

Said apparatus 472 of Fig. 23a then rotates assemblage 472 around horizontal member 521 from the turned over position of Fig. 22a back into the unturned position of Fig. 22. This is done by motor 522 upon completion, via Fig. 22a switch 811 (closed when assemblage 472 is turned over) plus Fig. 21a switch 813 (closed when the turnover arms 524 are vacant) plus Fig. 23 switch S09 (closed when push out plate 530 is withdrawn), of the Fig. 16 circuit for energizing the right winding of control valve SV29; with such energization causing flow into motor 522s right port 817 of pressure fluid which rotates shaft vane 818 counterclockwise through 180 and back into the original starting position represented in Fig. 16.

Said apparatus 472 of Figs. 21a-22 next shifts the assemblage 472 around vertical mounting shaft 518 (for head 516) from the track-532 registering position of Fig. 21a (shown dotted in Fig. l) back intothe elevator-47) registering position of Fig. 21 (shown full line -in Fig. 1). rThis is done by cylinder 529 upon completion, via Fig. 2l switch 813 (closed when the turn over arms 524 are vacant) plus Fig. 22 switch 81d (closed when assemblage 472 is in unturned over position) plus Fig. 2l switch 807' (closed when head 518 occupies the third position of Fig. 21a) of the Fig. 21 circuit for energizing the right winding of control valve SVZS; with such energization causing ow into cylinder 5205 right end of pressure fluid which moves piston S14 and arm S15 to the left thus swinging head 51S and assemblage 472 back into the original starting position which Fig. 21 represents.

This reconditions saidV apparatus 472 for withdrawing another mold drag 12 (with castings 1G) from the rollers 514 (Fig. 13C) of our Yraised elevator carriage 482 at Station VI and subjecting it to a processing cycle which exactly duplicates the one described by the foregoing paragraphs.

' Meanwhile, the stripped cope 14 which Fig. 13C shows as being carried in the top of Station Vl elevator 475) on the upper rollers 512 of the Vraised carriage 482 is Withdrawn therefrom into a frame 535 here represented as being attached to the side of elevator 470 and as leading to the cope shakeout 496 that communicates with the empty cope return track 415 of Fig. 1. This withdrawal may be er ected by any suitable means, such as those which the Fig. 13 views illustratively show in the form of a'cylinder 536 with piston rod 539 on the end of which a latch 538 is attached.

When said latch 53S 4is projected yinto the elevator 470 as Fig. 13C shows, it hooks over the inside of cope 14S end wall; and as the piston 537V of cylinder 536 then is moved to the right (by hydraulic pressure Huid) it pulls the latch andthe stripped cope 14 out of the elevator carriage 432 and upon receiving rollers 540 in frame 535. These rollers support the-withdrawn cope` 14 via its side bars 2S- Pressure uid for operating this cope withdrawing cylinder 536 is supplied thereto through a valve shown at SV26 in Fig. 13d as communicating with viuid supply and exhaust lines 276 and 277. Control circuits for theV left and right windings of this valve SV26 are illustrated as being energized from the electrical supply conductors 280 and 281 and as tincluding switches 801', 8075,'820 and 821 later to be described. Other control organizations for accomplishing the same purpose are of course possible.

The vaforesaid projectionV of said latch 538 into the elevator 470 for-hooking over ythe inside of a stripped cope 14s end wall, as in Fig. 13C, results from energization of the right SV26 winding over a circuit which Fig. 13d shows as including switch 821 closed when latch 538 is withdrawn (Fig. 13d) Vplus switch 805 closed when theelevator carriage 482 is raisedr(Fig. 13C) plus switch 801 closed when a cope 14 occupies said carriage on upper rollers512 thereof; and said right winding energization shifts the SV2'6 Velements to the right with accompanying ilow of pressure iluid into the right end of cylinder 536 and resultantmovement of ,piston 537 plus latch 538 into the left or extended position of Fig. 13e.

As latch 538 reaches said extendedV position and hooks over cope 14sflask rim, a limit switch 820 closes (Fig. 13e) and energizes the left SV26 winding over a circuit shown by Fig. 13d as including that switch 820. The resultant shift to the left of the SV26 elements (Fig. 13d) causes flow-of pressure fluid into the left end of cylinder 536 with an accompanying .drawing (by piston 537 and rod 539) of saidV latch 538 and the cope 14 to the right into the Fig. 13d position where said cope 14 has been taken Vout of the elevator and entered into the frame 535, as Fig. 13d shows.

Such transfer of the stripped cope14 of Fig. 13e from elevator `471) into frame 535 having been accomplished, this cylinder 536 remains in the YWithdrawn `condition of Fig. 13d until the elevator carriage 482 as later lowered to the Fig. 13a position has received another poured mold 12-14 (Fig. 13b) from the Station VI transfer car 468 and has `elevated thatA new mold into the raised Fig. l3c position with accompanying stripping of the cope 14 thereof from the drag 12 and castings 10 thereof. When this happens, cylinder 536 once more advances. latch 538 into the elevator top and then withdraws that newly strippedcope14 into theV frame 535.

vSuch new cope pushes the first cope 14 out of said frame and upon the cope shakeout .490 Vof Figs. 1 and 13. Said shakeout thereupon functions in conventional manner to remove sand 1S-from the received cope ask 14; and at the same time it advancesl that ynow empty cope flask 14 down the slope ofthe vibrating shake out grating (see Fig. 13) and upon the similarly sloping roller track 415 (Fig. l) viawhich the ask is returnedrby gravity to the Cope-On Station IV of the central assembling machine 30.

` After each withdrawal from elevator 470 both of the stripped cope -14 and of the mold drag 12 with castings 10 in theV manners aforesaid, the elevator carriage 482 is lowered from the raised position of Fig. 13d back into its original lowered position of Fig. 13a. This lowering .is done by the elevator cylinder 504 of Fig. l1 upon completion, via Fig. 13d switch 801 (closed when the upper carriage rollers 512 are vacant) plus Fig. 13d switch 802 (likewise closed when the lower carriage rollers 514 are vacant) plus Fig. 13d switch 805' (closed when carriage 482 is raised), of the Fig. 11 circuit for energizing the right winding of control 'valve SVZS; with such energization causing flow into cylinder 504s top port 822 of pressure fluid which moves piston 505 downwardly and back into the original lowered position of Fig. 13a.

This reconditions said elevator apparatus 470 for receiving another poured mold 12--14 from the Station VI transfer car 468 (FigL 9)` and subjecting it to a processing cycle which exactly duplicates the one described by the 

